Israeli Arab Media Center Supports Blau

The I'lam media center for Arab Society in Israel voiced its support for Ha'aretz reporter Uri Blau on Sunday, following last week's announcement by Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein that he would seek an indictment against Blau for illegal possession of classified documents. A statement by the center called an indictment "an unprecedented violation of the right of a journalist to confidentiality of information sources. It means a blow to freedom of the media, even if the case raises an issue that had no political-social consensus."

I'lam noted that Israel has censorship, claiming that the censor's approval of the materials released Blau from responsibility. I'lam called on Weinstein to reverse his decision.